Today at a large church in St. Petersburg, Governor-elect Rick Scott shared the stage with three corporate executives. They were touting Step Up for Students, a tax credit scholarship that funds Floridaâs school voucher program, but it didnât take long for politics to creep in.

Itâs one of those events where people in tailored suits hand off gigantic checks to nonprofit heads whilst surrounded by less fortunate beneficiaries. The nonprofit in question is Step Up for Students, which manages millions in tax-deductible corporate donations that fund school vouchers. Reviving his campaign rhetoric, Governor-elect Scott says quality education is inseparable from employment.

"Every dollar we spend says is it going to change kid's education? Are we going to make sure these kids get an education so they can get a job?"

Corporate donors that include Gap Incorporated, Walgreens, Burger King and ABC Liquors have given over $650 million to the program since it began in 2002. In exchange, they get a dollar-for-dollar tax write-off. The money funds scholarships for qualifying low-income students to go to the private school of their choice. Alternatively, it funds travel costs for recipients who want to go to an out-of-district public school. Recipient Silas Lopezâs grandmother applied for the Step Up scholarship for Lopez and his sibling and got it. Now, Lopez goes to Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland and has a 3.26 GPA.

"I am so grateful for the Step Up student scholarship and it's donors and supporters. You have given me a second chance."

The governor-elect doesnât give any empirical data that supports the voucher system as key way to reform Floridaâs crippling education system. But Scott, who reminds the audience that he spent the first part of his life in public housing, is heavy on the anecdotes.

The former medical company CEO asks why schools shouldnât be compelled to compete for students in the same way businesses do for clients.

"Why wouldn't you have choice? I've owned lots of businesses, I've owned doughnut shops, so we got better because we had to compete with Dunkin' Donuts and a bunch of other doughnut shops. I've owned companies in manufacturing. We got better because people could choose any product that they wanted to buy. Why, in the living daylights, doesn't that apply to education?"

Last spring, the state legislature approved broader eligibility criteria for corporations seeking the education tax credit. Thereâs now no cap on corporate donations, and the tax credit applies to the oil and gas severance and alcoholic beverage excise taxes. The first company to donate to the program was Progress Energy Florida, and that companyâs CEO Vincent Dolan says itâs about more than the tax deduction.

"While we serve 1.6 million homes and businesses around the state, more important to us is that's where our employees live and work. We want to make sure they are vital and thriving communities and we can't think of a
better way than to support those efforts through the foundation."

For now roughly 33,000 low-income students are eligible for vouchers. Today Scott hints that he and the legislature may try to expand the system to all students.

"We have a great opportunity this Spring, in this session. We can make sure that we pass an education bill that is one hundred per cent for the benefit of kids. And give every child in the state the same opportunity you
had. To make sure that you go to whatever school you want to got to. You have teachers that are going to get measured and the best teachers get paid the best. Knowing that your teacher is not guaranteed their job just
because they show up and they got hired the first time or they are there so many years. So, we have the choice to expand the scholarship program. It's my commitment. We should have a very conservative legislature that will support it."

Critics of the voucher system say it diverts tax revenue crucial to ailing government budgets. Kim Black is President of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association. She says giving vouchers to every student would result in chaos.

"When you think of the 2.5 million students across Florida trying to go to different start-up schools where the level of accountability is not the same as it is for the public school student. And the level of certification and degrees isn't the same for the teachers in those programs. I just really
think that could lead to pandemonium. And I don't think that's what the taxpayers had in mind."

Scott also uses the pulpit to attack Governor Cristâs veto of Senate Bill 6, also known as the teacher tenure bill.

"Why is it so hard for us as a state to say, 'we're going to measure the effectiveness of teachers'. Do we all love teachers? Yeah. There's a lot of great teachers, and most of them are great teachers. But everybody ought to get measured."

Prior to Cristâs veto of the controversial bill, teachers feared and vehemently opposed it. Black says sheâs sure something like it will come up again, but this time, teachers will be more prepared.

"It's not a fear of the unknown because we really know, we already saw what happened through Senate Bill 6. We know that there is discussion now that some of the portions of that bill will come back. I just think it's
extremely important to have the teachers in the process. And since it was so poor for education then, what makes it right during this legislative session in 2011? What are the changes that the legislature is willing to make so that it is something the community, the parents, the teachers and
the students can accept for this next legislative cycle?"

During his speech, Scott repeatedly talks about the importance of accountability.

"I ran on get the state back to work, fix education, tort reform, fixes in insurance and those issues. I said, 'hold me accountable.'"

But as he exits the church, the governor-elect refuses to answer questions from reporters.

Comments

dollar for dollar?
tampa tg about about 4 years ago
Let me get this straight. We're letting corporations get a dollar for dollar tax break to support a duplicate school system with virtually no oversight while our teachers are paying out of pocket for school supplies? That the schools supported by this voucher program are free to teach out of the Texas school book, if they so choose or require their students to study various religious sects as part of their curriculum? That we're taking away funding in the form of tax dollars from our local school districts who are funded by our property taxes while not allowing our elected school board members any oversight in administering the education of the children in our local community? That this Tea Party agenda is planning to take over our local education program? Isn't that their complaint about Obama Care? And last, but not least, if these corporations qualify for dollar to dollar tax credits in Florida, how much additional tax credit do they receive from the IRS?

questionable
Brandon about about 4 years ago
How does this help the education system? 650 MILLION dollars that could be donated to public schools. Only 33,000 qualify for this program? When millions could be helped in public schools..Oh and you can still get your tax write off so don't worry.

Current process doesn't work...
Glenn Pendergrass about about 4 years ago
Florida spends $7,000 per studentâ¦ per year!!! Itâs way past time to hold the public school âsystemâ accountable for allowing US to be #30 in math, reading and science!!! The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) is the stateâs program for funding public schools. Governor Cristâs budget provides $18.6 billion for the FEFP, for a total of $7,045 per student, an increase of 2.61 percent over funding for the 2009-10 school year. In addition, in 2009-10, the State provides 45 percent of per-student funding, with local government providing 50 percent. In the Governorâs 2010-11 budget, the State provides 49 percent of per-student funding, with local government providing 46 percent. Included within the FEFP is $890.5 million in federal funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/Highlights_stimulus/education/education_home_stimulus.aspx

Did sum math...
Glenn Pendergrass about about 4 years ago
Dudeâ¦ thatâs $126,810 per classroom for K â 3rdâ¦ $154,990 per classroom 4th â 8th andâ¦ $176,125 per classroom for 9th â 12th!!! #1 China spends 12% of its budget on educationâ¦ meanwhileâ¦ #30 US of A spends 17%!!! Japan spends only 10% and theyâre still in the TOP 10â¦ Whatâs wrong with this picture???